World Literature

The MA in World Literature at the University of Kent offers a comprehensive exploration of literary traditions from around the globe, emphasizing diverse cultural contexts, historical periods, and linguistic backgrounds. This programme is designed for students who are passionate about literature and eager to engage critically with texts from different regions and eras, fostering a nuanced understanding of how literature reflects and shapes human experiences across cultures. Throughout the course, students will examine literary works from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and beyond, analyzing themes, narrative structures, and stylistic innovations. The programme encourages interpretative skills, theoretical insights, and comparative approaches, enabling students to contextualize texts within broader aesthetic and socio-political discourses. The curriculum integrates interdisciplinary perspectives, including history, philosophy, and cultural studies, to enrich students' analytical capabilities. Students will participate in seminars, workshops, and independent research projects, culminating in a dissertation that allows for an in-depth investigation of a chosen topic within world literature. The course also emphasizes developing advanced critical thinking, academic writing, and presentation skills, preparing graduates for careers in academia, publishing, translation, and cultural policy. Taught by experienced academics with expertise in global literature, the programme benefits from the university’s diverse academic community and international outlook. By choosing this programme, students will join a vibrant intellectual community dedicated to exploring the richness and complexity of world literature, fostering global perspectives, and engaging with contemporary literary debates. The MA in World Literature at the University of Kent is an ideal choice for students seeking to deepen their understanding of global literary traditions and to contribute meaningfully to ongoing conversations about culture and identity through the study of literature.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline January 15 Tuition fee

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 12450 Year (Non-EEA)

Start date September 2015 Credits (ECTS) 180 ECTS
Credits Total Kent credits: 360
Duration full-time 36 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Full-time More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules, you may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.

Stage 1

Possible modules may include:

CP311 - The Tale

CP325 - World Literature:An Introduction

CL315 - Classical Mythology:Themes and Approaches

CP305 - Freedom and Oppression in Modern Literature

CP306 - Guilt and Redemption in Modern Literature

CP317 - Childhood & Adolesence in Modern Fiction

CP318 - Introduction to Contemporary European and Hispanic Cinemas

CP323 - The Romantic Movement

CP324 - Classical Literature

Stage 2

Possible modules may include:

CP510 - The Text: Approaches to Comparative Literature

CP532 - Latin American Fiction

CP518 - The Book and the Film: Adaptation and Interpretation

CP527 - Medieval Literature and Culture

CP530 - Marriage, Adultery and Divorce in 19th Century Fiction

CP531 - The Renaissance

CP609 - Modernism and the European Avant-Garde

CP611 - Postmodernism

CP624 - The Shoah in Literature, Film and Culture

CP627 - Science Fiction: History and Innovation

CP629 - Second Thoughts: Women Novelists from Bronte to Jelinek

CP632 - Reason and Passion in 18th Century European Fiction

CP636 - European Realism

CP642 - The Epic: From Homer to Walcott

CP644 - Creatures of the Night: Vampires in Literature and Film

CP646 - Prize Winners

CP650 - Decadence in Fin-de-Siecle Europe

CP656 - Shakespeare's Afterlives

Stage 3

Possible modules may include:

CP652 - Postcolonial Images of Africa and South Asia

CP513 - Comparative Literature Dissertation

CP531 - The Renaissance

CP530 - Marriage, Adultery and Divorce in 19th Century Fiction

CP527 - Medieval Literature and Culture

CP518 - The Book and the Film: Adaptation and Interpretation

CP642 - The Epic: From Homer to Walcott

CP636 - European Realism

CP641 - SWIPE Undergraduate Conference

CP632 - Reason and Passion in 18th Century European Fiction

CP629 - Second Thoughts: Women Novelists from Bronte to Jelinek

CP627 - Science Fiction: History and Innovation

CP624 - The Shoah in Literature, Film and Culture

CP611 - Postmodernism

CP609 - Modernism and the European Avant-Garde

CP653 - Comparative Literature and English & Linguistics in the Classroom

CP650 - Decadence in Fin-de-Siecle Europe

CP647 - Prize Winners

CP644 - Creatures of the Night: Vampires in Literature and Film

CP656 - Shakespeare's Afterlives

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.

Qualification Typical offer/minimum requirement

• A level ABB Access to HE Diploma

• The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above.

• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma): The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances.

• International Baccalaureate 34 points overall or 16 at HL

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Kent.

World Literature at the University of Kent offers a comprehensive exploration of literary texts from across the globe, spanning different cultures, languages, and historical periods. This program aims to develop students' understanding of the diverse ways in which literature reflects societal values, cultural identities, and historical contexts. Throughout the course, students engage with a wide array of texts, ranging from classical works to contemporary writings, providing a nuanced perspective on global literary traditions.

The curriculum encourages critical analysis of themes such as migration, identity, resistance, and language. Students have the opportunity to study literature in translation as well as in the original languages, fostering linguistic skills and intercultural competence. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, integrating insights from history, philosophy, and cultural studies to enrich students' understanding of literary works.

The program is designed to develop key skills including analytical thinking, research, and effective communication, preparing students for careers in education, publishing, media, international relations, and more. Students benefit from the university’s strong links with cultural institutions worldwide, which provide opportunities for internships, conferences, and collaborative projects.

The teaching methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, and independent research, supported by dedicated academic staff with expertise in various regions and periods of world literature. Assessment methods typically involve essays, presentations, and exams, allowing students to demonstrate their critical and analytical skills.

Graduates from the World Literature program at the University of Kent have gone on to successful careers in fields such as literary criticism, publishing, cultural policy, and academia. The program also encourages postgraduate study, offering a solid foundation for research in literature, philosophy, and interdisciplinary studies. Overall, the program aims to cultivate globally-minded and critically aware graduates equipped with a deep appreciation and understanding of world literary cultures.